COURSE OVERVIEW
Become a professional in a field actively seeking out the next generation of talent.
The MA in Location Sound Recording for Film and Television is a comprehensive program which will prepare you for a career in location sound recording, both on location and in a multi-camera television studio.
The course has been designed to meet the industry's growing demand for highly trained sound crew for film and television productions. Graduates go on to work on feature films, shorts and high-end TV productions.
Where our students film
In and around the UK, abroad, or on our film and TV stages, practical filming takes place in a variety of locations, giving you a wide variety of learned skills to graduate with.
Content Tabs
The NFTS has recently made some exciting changes to this course. Our A Fresh Take page tells you all you need to know!
Taught exclusively by Industry professionals, this course will give you high quality training in the theory and practice of recording sound for picture, both on location and in our state-of-the-art 4K multi-camera television studio. Throughout the course you'll get vital production experience, as you collaborate with fellow students in other specialisms to make several films, across fiction, documentary and entertainment.
This course equips you for a variety of careers in the film and television industry, giving you practical training in 2nd Assistant Sound, 1st Assistant Sound and Production Sound Mixer roles. Whatever level you enter the Industry, you'll have all the skills to progress with confidence.
Graduates have gone on to work on Academy Award, BAFTA and Emmy recognised films and television shows.
Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the fundamentals of sound and audio equipment.
- Operate professional location sound recording equipment effectively.
- Capture high-quality audio in various on-location settings.
- Collaborate with film and television production teams.
- Troubleshoot common sound recording issues.
- Adhere to industry standards and best practices for location sound recording.
- Demonstrate professionalism, communication, and teamwork skills in a production.
COURSE FACILITIES
You'll have access to industry-standard sound location recording equipment using the latest technology, such as Sound Devices multi-track recorders, including the 888 and 688 and radio microphone systems from Audio Ltd and Sennheiser. You'll have access to an extensive suite of microphones for all applications and Sennheiser IEM systems for production sound distribution.
As an NFTS student, you'll be working in the largest production facilities that you will find at a film school in the UK, including film stages and a 4K television studio, giving you invaluable practical experience and on-set training.
Introduction to Sound
- Basics of acoustics
- Sound propagation and reflection
- Audio physics and terminology
- Practical exercises and demonstrations
Audio Equipment and Technology
- Overview of audio recording equipment
- Microphones, and mixers
- Wireless audio systems
- Recording media and formats
- Maintenance and troubleshooting
Location Sound Recording Techniques
- Pre-production sound planning
- On-set audio setup and monitoring
- Boom operation and microphone placement
- Field recording and soundscapes
- Noise reduction and sound isolation
- Working with directors, producers, and other crew members
- Effective communication and teamwork
- Understanding the script and project requirements
- On-set etiquette and professionalism
Industry Standards and Best Practices
- Safety protocols on set
- Industry regulations and unions
- Networking and career development
- Practical application of skills on real-world projects
- Internship opportunities with industry professionals
- Portfolio development
You will need a proven interest in sound - particularly recorded sound - a lively interest in film, television and music and a willingness to work as part of a team. We are looking for people who are practically minded. Interpersonal skills are as important as practical ones, because as a sound recordist, you’ll need to be able to work effectively as part of a team. You’ll also need to be fit and have plenty of energy, as sound recording can be physically demanding.
While we don’t select applicants on the basis of their ability to drive, we strongly recommend that you learn to drive, as a clean, current, driving license will be essential in your future career.
While many applicants will have a degree from a British or overseas university, we will consider applicants who do not have a degree if they have an impressive portfolio, a creative track record or an alternative qualification.
International students Visa and English language requirements
If you have any questions, please email info@nfts.co.uk
The following item(s) should accompany your online application:
- Please tell us of an event or production that you have recorded or one that you have experienced and would like to have recorded. Include information on what preparation you did and what you would have done differently. What inspired you about the event? This should not exceed 500 words.
- If you have any work that you would like to share with us please send us the links. However, this is not essential since you may not have had the opportunity to create something yet.
Applications will close at 23:59 on the day of the deadline, shown at the top of this page.
Funding Available
The NFTS offers more scholarships and bursaries to British students, relative to its size, than almost any UK educational institution. If you successfully gain a place on a course, you’ll receive details on how to apply. Funding is available to UK citizens and British passport holders that meet residency requirements ; we recommend international, EU, and EEA students to take a look at our funding guide for helpful advice and resources.
Upcoming Events
Tutors
Student Showcase
Rock Paper Scissors (trailer)
2024 graduation fiction
Director/Writer - Franz Böhm
Producer - Hayder Rothschild Hoozeer
Production Sound Mixer - India Holdstock
1st Assistant Sound - Luke Predeth
Ivan and his father, operating a small hospital at the frontline, are tested when a platoon of Russian soldiers approach their building, forcing them to make a difficult decision to protect their patients and their own lives.
This film recently won the Royal Television Society Student Award for Best Postgraduate Sound, after winning the BAFTA for Best British Short Film earlier in the year.
Welcome Home Freckles (trailer)
2025 graduation documentary
Director/Producer/Motion Graphics and Titles Designer - Huiju Park
Sound Recordist - Jules Barral
After four years apart, a daughter returns to Daegu, South Korea, to confront the unresolved family conflicts and deep-rooted domestic violence that plagued her childhood. She discovers the generational cycle of abuse and realises that only she can break it.
This film has been longlisted in the Best Student Documentary category at the 2025 Grierson Awards.
Dive (trailer)
2023 graduation fiction
Director/Writer - Will Peppercorn
Producer - Martina Buendia Silva
Production Sound Mixer - Will Rowe
1st Assistant Sound - Jacopo Scutti
An environmental thriller set onboard an offshore oil rig out in the North Sea.
Alumni on Zoom - Sound
We speak to Oscar-winning Sound Recordist Stuart Wilson (1917, Star Wars), Ronald Bailey (Pennyworth, Silent Witness) and Caroline Singh (Cuckoo) about their careers and their journey to the NFTS.
The Paradise Park Will Close on Fridays at Three (trailer)
2023 graduation documentary
Director - Frank Eli Martin
Producer - Tal Elkayam
Sound Recordist - Jacopo Scutti
Through a chorus of characters, this film documents the uncanny absurdism of an Israeli theme park built in the Palestinian West Bank and finds a tragic allegory for the delusions that are needed to rationalise the injustices of Israeli society.